Both Republican and Democratic registrars of voters in Preston are planning to retire

Preston - The 2014 election will be the last one to be worked by the town's two veteran registrars of voters, as both have announced their pending retirement.

Republican Registrar Parke Spicer and Democratic Registrar Eleanor Michaud have informed their respective town committees that they will not seek the nomination in the upcoming May endorsement conventions.

Spicer, 76, the former first selectman, has held the registrar position for the past 10 years, while Michaud has served for about six years in the part-time position that pays $5,000 a year.

Spicer said Thursday that it's time for him to retire after decades of serving the in various public positions in Preston. He said he wants to travel for extended periods of time, and felt it would not be fair to the town to leave the registrar duties for weeks or months at a time.

"I deserve a break," Spicer said.

And, he said, the rapidly advancing technology has caught up with him.

"It's getting very technical in terms of what they're doing, with registering online," Spicer said. "I know enough to be dangerous, and I have a computer guru across the hall who keeps me out of trouble. But I'm not all that savvy with the computer."

Michaud could not be reached for comment.

Resident Joanne Eisenhart has expressed her interest in the Democratic Town Committee's endorsement to run for registrar, party officials said Thursday.

Republican Town Committee Chairman Norman Gauthier said he has one potentially interested resident, but the person has not yet committed to seeking the nomination.

Gauthier and Democratic Town Committee Chairman Jerry Grabarek both praised the work done over the years by Spicer and Michaud in overseeing town elections and voter registrations.

Gauthier said Spicer has been involved in town service "for a very, very long time" and has served the town well.